Swiveled well head with sealing means



March 8, 1955 D. c. WARREN SWIVELED WELL HEAD WITH SEALING MEANS Filed Aug. 17. 1950 KW m .e m M my w a United States Patent 2,703,720 SWIVELED WELL HEAD WITH SEALING MEANS Doyle C. Warren, Fullerton, Califi, assignor to Chiksan Company, Brea, Califi, a corporation of California Application August 17, 1950, Serial No. 179,996 4 Claims. (Cl. 28597.3)

This invention has to do with a well head and is more specifically concerned with a head applicable to a well casing and which is such as to provide for effective introduction of materials into a casingand also for the insertion and removal of tools or equipment into the casing while the head is attached thereto.

In the producing or servicing of wells there are occasions when it is desirable to apply a head to a well casing to facilitate the introduction of materials, for instance, cement, and various liquids, and there are occasions when it is desirable to operate tools or equipment into and out of the casing while the head is attached thereto. The general type of head with which the present invention is concerned is the subject of the Patent No. 2,501,638 issued March 31, 1950 on my inventionentitled Circulating Head. Y 3

It is a general objectof the present invention to provide a well casing head of the general character above referred to wherein there is a body provided at its upper end with a removable closure and having one or more lateral fluid handling openings and a mounting member applicable to a casing and carrying a coupling normally connecting the mounting and body for freerelative rotation and such that the body and mounting can be readily separated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a head construction of the general character referred to in which the mounting member applicable to the casing and the coupling member carried thereby are of simple, inexpensive construction, while at the same time being such as to provide a sturdy and dependable structure that is easily manipulated. V

It is a further object of this invention to provide a head construction of the general character referred to in which the body and mounting member applicable to the casing are rotatively coupledthrough a-coupling member which is a simple, inexpensive construction and which serves as the sole means for making connection with the body and for holding the bearing balls that rotatably support the mounting member. With the construction of the present invention there is but one threaded connection, namely, the connection between the coupling member and body, and the entire construction is free of parts that are complicated or expensive of construction,

Another object of the invention is to provide a casing head of the general character referredto having a body provided at its upper end with a neck portion provided with internal and external threads of different character to provide for quick application and removal of a closure and for reception of a pipe, or the like, as circumstances may require.

The head provided by the present invention is characterized by a vertical tubular body with a middle portion having a flow passage that preferably corresponds in size to the interior of the casing or part to which the head is to be connected. An upper end portion or neck projects upwardly from the middle portion of the body and a lower end portion or base projects down from the middle portion of the body. The neck of the body has an opening somewhat larger than the passage through the middle portion of thebody which opening is threaded for the reception of a pipe or the like, and the exterior of the neck is provided with a heavy or coarse thread suitable for handling a closure in the form of a cap.

The middle portion of the body is provided with one or more lateral openings in communication with the body and is provided at each lateral opening with a projection in which there is a socket receiving the inner end of a fitting which is preferably an angle fitting provided at its outer end with a thread for making connection with a suitable duct. The inner end portions of the fittings are rotatively coupled to the body, preferably through axially spaced series of bearing balls, and suitable seal-. ing or packing means act between body to prevent leakage.

the fittings and the 2,703,720 Patented Mar. 8, 1955 The base portion of the body is enlarged and has a socket entering it from its lower end and terminating at a shoulder. A counterbore continues upwardly from the shoulder and terminates in a flat bottom. The wall of the socket from the lower end of the base to the shoulder is threaded. A tubular mounting member has its lower end threaded for connection with a casing or the like, either directly with the casing or through an adapter, as circumstances may require. The upper end portion of the mounting member fits into the socket of the base provided on the body and a coupling member surrounds the upper end portion of the mounting member and is engaged in the socket. The coupling member is atubular part receiving the upper end portion of the mounting member with clearance and its exterior is threaded to have threaded engagement with the threads of the socket. When the coupling member is fully engaged 1n the socket it has a lower end that projects somewhat below the base of the body so that it can be engaged with a wrench or the like. An upper end portion of the coupling member is plain and is of reduced diameter to slidably fit into the counterbore provided 1n the base of the body. Sealing means such as sealing rmgs seal between the reduced upper end portion of the coupling member and the wall of the counterbore. Antifriction means, preferably axially spaced series of bearmg balls, are carried in registering grooves provided in the upper end portion of the mounting member and the interior of the coupling member. The balls are introduced into place through radial openings in the coupling member, WhlCh openings are normally closed by plugs and a single lock means secures each plug in place.

A lock means secures the coupling member in the socket and preferably involves a member threaded into a radial opening in the base portion and having an inner end or pm that projects into one of several recesses provided in the exterior of the coupling member. A sealing means isprovided between the mounting member, the coupling member and the body. In the preferred construction the upper endof the mounting member has a tip por-' tron which pro ects upwardly and is of reduced diameter. The upper end portion of the coupling member has an inwardly projecting flange that projects into the recess or cavity established by the tip portion of the mounting member. A packing ring is carried on the tip portion and in the upper end portion of the coupling member and seals against the bottom at the upper end of the counterbore provided in the base of the body.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical prefered form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a head provided by the present invention, showing it in operating position, and with the body closed by a cap-like closure, parts of the structure being broken away to show in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a portion of the structure taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an'enlarged plan section taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the upper end portion of the structure, showing a pipe engaged with the body of the head, and Fig. 5 is a view taken as indicated by line 55 on Fig. 2.

The head provided by the present invention is applicable to a well casing, or the like, and it is useful, generally, where it is desired to handle flow into or out of the well casing, and where it is desired to operate tools, instruments, or other equipment into and out of the well casing while the head is in place thereon, or it can be used under conditions requiring that a pipe or other like duct be attached to the upper end of the head in line with the casing, while the head is in operating position on the casing. By reason of the various structural features provided by the present invention the head is useful under a wide range of conditions, and it is contemplated that, in practice, suitable modifications or variations may be incorporated in the structure to better suit any special conditions that may arise.

The head, as provided by the present invention is applicable to a well casing C or to fittings provided on a well casing, or the like, and it provides for establishing connection between one or more fluid handling ducts A and the casing C, and it may be used to receive a fluid handling duct P in line with the casing C. The head, in its preferred form, involves, generally a body D with a middle portion 10, an upper end portion or neck 11 and a lower end portion or base 12. The head further includes a closure E applicable to the neck 11 of the body fittings D carried by the middle portion of the body in communication with lateral openings or flow passages provided in the middle portion of the body. The head further involves a mounting member G provided for connection to the casing C, and a coupling member H between the mounting member G and the base portion of the body. Anti-friction means I rotatably couple the mounting member and the coupling member. A sealing means K seals between the coupling member and the base of the body, while a sealing means L seals between the mounting member, the coupling member, and the body.

The body D of the head is essentially a vertically disposed tubular element involving the portions 10, 11 and 12, and in practice it is preferably anintegral unitthat can be advantageously formed by casting or forging.

The middle portion 10 of body D has a central vertical opening formed through it, which opening is preferably at least equal in diameter to the opening that occurs in the casing C or the fittings applied to the easing on which the head is to be operated. One or more lateral flow passages 21 are provided at the middle portion 10 of the body in communication with the central opening 29 and these passages continue into or through box-like enlargements 22 on the exterior of body portion 10. In the case illustrated I show two diametrically opposite passages 21 and corresponding bosses 22. The bosses 22 are provided to receive and hold the inner ends of fittings F connected to body portion 10 to be in communication with the opening 20 through the passages 21. In the case illustrated each boss 22 provided on the body portion 10 has a socket opening 24 enter-- ing it from its outer end and the inner end portion 25 of fitting F enters the socket 24 where it is rotatably held by annular series of bearing balls 26. The balls 26 can be introduced into place-through an access openingv 27 normally closed by a plug 28. Suitable sealing means 29 acts between the inner end portion 25 of the fitting and the body to prevent leakage between these parts. In practice the fittings F may vary in size, form and character, depending upon the service to be performed.

In a typical case the fittings F are alike and are simple, r

angular fittings having outer end portions 30 angularly related to the inner end portions 25 and threaded for the reception of the ducts A, as shown in the drawings.

The neck 11 of body D continues upwardly from the upper end of the middle portion 10 and projects a substantial distance above the bosses 22 at the sides of portion 10. The neck has an opening formed centrally through it and in communication with the passage 20 in the body portion 10. The opening 35 is somewhat larger in diameter than the passage 20 and is threaded to receive a pipe P or the like, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. By making the opening 35 somewhat larger than the passage 20 a pipe P can be applied to the head having an inside diameter substantially equal to that of the passage 20. The exterior of the neck is provided with a screw thread 36 and I prefer to provide a coarse or heavy thread such as is shown in the drawings. The thread 36 is provided to hold the closure E which is preferably in the form of a cap having an internally threaded collar portion 37 that fits around the neck and is internally threaded to receive the threads 36. The cap has a plain portion 38 that closes the upper end of the collar 37 and the portion 38 is preferably provided with a central tool-receiving projection or lug 39 that facilitates convenient operation of the cap. When the cap is in place it is preferred to provide a washer or seal 40 between the plate 38 of the cap and the upper end of the neck, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

The base portion 12 of the body continues downwardly from the lower end of the middle portion 10 of the body and is considerably larger in diameter than the middle portion 10. The base of the body is provided with a socket opening 50 that enters the base portion from its lower end 51 and which continues upwardly in the base portion to terminate at a shoulder 52. The socket open.-

4: ing is threaded, preferably from the end 51 to the shoulder 52', as clearly shown in Fig. 2' of the drawings.

A counterbore 55, smaller in diameter than the socket 50, continues into the base of the body from the shoulder 52 and terminates at a flat part 56 disposed in a plane normal to the longitudinal or vertical axis of the body.

The mounting member G provided by the present invention is an elongate tubular part provided at its lower end for connection with the casing C or a part thereon, and in the case illustrated the lower end portion of the mounting member G is threaded as at 60 to make the desired connection with the casing. The upper end portion 61 of the mounting member G extends upwardly into the base portion of the body D and terminates within the base portion of the body D. The coupling member H is a tubular part that surrounds the upper end portion 61 of the member G and is engaged in the base of the body D. The coupling member has a main portion 65 externally threaded and having threaded engagement in the socket 50 of the base portion of the body. The mainportion of the coupling member is preferably such as to correspond in length with the depth of the socket so that when the coupling member is in place, as shown in Fig. 2, it is completely contained within the socket 50,. and through the threads in the socket and on the exterior of the part 65 the coupling member is effectively retained in the socket. A lower end portion 66 of the couplingv member projects downwardly a suitable distance below the lower end 51 of the base portion of the body when the main portion of the coupling member is fully engaged in the socket. The end portion 66 presents a part that can be conveniently engaged for the purpose of applying the coupling member to or removing it from the base portion of the body. The coupling member has an upper end portion 68 somewhat smaller in diameter than the main portion 65. The upper end portion 68 isturned to have sliding engagement in the counterbore 55' and its upper end 69 is preferably flat and may seat against the bottom 56, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The means I rotatably coupling the members G and H preferably involves one or more annular series of bearing balls carried in registering grooves or channels 70 provided in the exterior of the portion 61 of member G and the interior of the portion 65 of member H. In the case illustrated there are two annular series of balls 71 spaced apart axially of the structure. In accordance with the invention the balls 71 may be inserted into and removed from the channels established by the registering grooves 70 through access openings 75' normally closed by plugs 76 that are threaded into the openings 75. The openings 75' extend radially through the main portion 65 of member H and when the closures or plugs 76 are in position to properly retain the balls 71 they are completely contained' within the openings 75 so that they do not interfere with threading of the portion 65 into the socket 50.

In the preferred form of the invention a suitable means, preferably a single means 77, is provided for locking the plugs 76 in the proper engaged positions as shown in Fig; 2 of the drawings. The locking means 77 illustrated in the drawings involves a lock plate 78 carried in a recess 79 provided in the exterior of the portion 65 of member H between the openings 75. The lock plate 78 is held in the recess 79 by a retainer or screw 80 and it has projections 81 that engage notches 82 in heads provided on the plugs 76. This particular construction is best illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

In accordance with the present invention a lock means 83'isprovided for setting or locking the coupling member H in position in the socket of the base portion 12. In its preferred form the lock means involves a plug 35 carried in a radial opening 86 providedin the base portion of the body to extend from the exterior thereof into the socket 50. The plug has a pin portion 87 at its inner end which enters a recess 88 in the periphery of the main portion 65' of member In a preferred construction several openings86, say, for example, four such openings, are providedaround the base portion of the body, and a plurality of recesses 88 are provided in the exterior of the' portion 65 of member H and are spaced apart circumferentially of the portion 65, say, for example, in a manner such as is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. With this construction one of the recesses 88 can be readily registered with an opening 86 in the base portion when the coupling member H is properly engaged in the base portion. The plug 86 with the pin 87 is applied as shown in Fig. 3, so that when it enters a recess 88 it positively locks the member H against rotation in the base portion, so that these parts cannot become disengaged. In practice openings 86 not employed to carry the plug 85 may be closed by simple closure plugs 90, as shown in Fig. 3.

The sealing means K is provided to seal between the inner or upper end portion 68 of member H and the body where it is counterbored at 55. In the case illustrated the exterior of the end portion 68 of member H is recessed or grooved at 91 and packing rings 92 are carried in the grooves 91 to seal with the wall of the counterbore 55. I show two grooves, and corresponding rings sealing between the parts just mentioned.

The sealing or packing means L is provided to seal between the mounting member G, the body portion 12 and the coupling member H. In the construction illustrated the mounting member H has a tip portion 93 of reduced diameter projecting upwardly from the upper end 94 of the portion 61. A packing ring 95 is carried on the tip portion 93 and engages in the upper end portion of the member H. The ring has a part, preferably a ridge 96, that has sealing engagement with the part 56 of the counterbore. In the preferred construction the packing ring 95, which is preferably formed of a sealing or packing material, is supported by a backing ring 97 carried on the tip 93 and carried in the upper end portion of member H. The ring 97 is supported on a flange 98 that projects radially inward from the member H at a point spaced below the upper end 69 thereof. The packing ring 95 is effective in sealing between the relatively moving parts of the structure and prevents fluid handled by the head from entering between the working parts.

It is desirable, in practice, to provide a sealing ring 99 to check the entrance of foreign matter between the members G and H at the lower end of the member H. In the drawings I show a suitable sealing ring 99 carried in a groove 100 provided in the exterior of member H so that the ring 99 seals in the end portion 66 of member H.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have, by my present invention, provided a structure which provides for handling flow through the sides of the body, as well as through the top of the body, and if desired the top of the body can be left open for the passage of tools, instruments, or equipment into and out of the casing. It is particularly important to observe that I have provided a mounting member on which the coupling member H can be permanently assembled, as through the antifriction bearing means I, so that these parts form a unit or assembly that can be arranged in or removed from the base of the body, as circumstances require. In practice a structure as provided by the present invention may be subject to severe working conditions, and as a result the packing means L and the working parts such as the mounting member G and the coupling member H with the bearing means I may, from time to time, require replacement or repair. Through the present invention these parts that require service or attention can be readily separated from the body and can be quickly removed and replaced without taking the head out of service for an appreciable length of time. Furthermore, through the present invention the members G and H are simple tubular parts, free of complicated or expensive structural features making it economically practical to replace them at frequent intervals, as conditions require, so that the head is maintained in satisfactory working condition. In fact, in practice a head may be equipped with a spare assembly involving a coupling member G and mounting member H, so that should trouble develop the assembly in service can be removed and replaced with little effort, and in a very short time.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall Within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A well head adapted to be applied to a well casing including, a vertical tubular body with a middle portion having a lateral flow passage, a neck projecting up from the middle portion and a base projecting down from the middle portion, and having a socket with a flat bottom, a fitting rotatably carried by the body in communication with the said flow passage, a mounting member extending upwardly into the base and having a recessed inner end opposing the bottom of the socket, a sleeve-like coupling member threaded into the socket in the base and engaged around the mounting member, the coupling member having an inner end portion seated directly on the bottom of the socket and having an inwardly projecting flange spaced from the inner end and having an annular groove in its exterior, the said members having registering grooves defining axially spaced annular channels, bearing balls in the channels and coupling said members for relative rotation, a sealing ring carried in the inner end portion of the mounting member and confined between the flange and the bottom of the socket, and a sealing ring in the groove in the exterior of the coupling member and having sealing engagement with the wall of the socket.

2. A well head adapted to be applied to a well casing including, a vertical tubular body with a middle portion having a lateral flow passage, a neck projecting up from the middle portion and a base projecting down from the middle portion and having a socket opening therein terminating at a flat downwardly facing bottom, a fitting rotatably carried by the body in communication with said flow passage, a mounting member extending upwardly into the base and having a depending threaded lower end portion, a sleeve-like coupling member threaded into the socket opening of the base and engaged around the mounting member and terminating at a flat upper end seated against the bottom of the socket, the said members having registering grooves defining an annular channel, bearing balls in the channel and coupling said members for relative rotation, and two separate sealing means including a sealing ring surrounding the coupling member and sealing between the coupling member and the body, and a sealing ring engaged with and sealing between the mounting member and the body.

3. A fluid handling joint including, a tubular body with a base having a socket with a flat bottom, a member extending into the base and having a recessed inner end opposing the bottom of the socket, a sleeve-like coupling member threaded into the socket in the base and engaged around the first member, the coupling member having an inner end portion seated directly on the bottom of the socket and having an inwardly projecting flange spaced from the inner end and having an annular groove in its exterior, the said members having registering grooves defining axially spaced annular channels, bearing balls in the channels and coupling said members for relative rotation, a sealing ring carried in the inner end portion of the coupling member and confined between the flange and the bottom of the socket, and a sealing ring in the groove in the exterior of the coupling member and having sealing engagement with the wall of the socket.

4. A fluid handling joint including, a tubular body with a longitudinal flow passage and a base portion having a socket opening therein terminating at a flat bottom, a member extending into the base and having a threaded end portion, a sleeve-like coupling member threaded into the socket opening of the base and engaged around the first member and terminating at a flat end seated against the bottom of the socket, the said members having registering grooves defining axially spaced annular channels, bearing balls in the channels and coupling said members for relative rotation, and two separate sealing means including a sealing ring surrounding the coupling member and sealing between the coupling member and the body, and a sealing ring engaged with and sealing between the first member and the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 564,875 Doyen July 28, 1896 826,093 Drew July 17, 1906 1,172,958 Donohue Feb. 22, 1916 1,708,645 Wright Apr. 9, 1929 1,816,670 Church July 28, 1931 1,955,069 Hunt Apr. 17, 1934 2,384,360 Allen et a1. Sept. 4, 1945 2,394,715 Phillips Feb. 12, 1946 2,489,441 Warren Nov. 29, 1949 2,501,638 Warren Mar. 21, 1950 

